ANF News Reporter Maxime Demiralp Arrested

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Maxime Demiralp, director of Fırat News Agency (ANF) has been arrested by Belgian Police on Turkey's demand.

In a statement made by ANF, Demiralp was taken into custody on December 15 by Belgian police on basis of an INTERPOL (International Criminal Police Organization) order issued on Turkey's demand. The court ruled Demiralp's arrest the next day on the same grounds.

ANF in its statement has accused the Government of Turkey of trying to target also the Kurdish journalists with its oppression and terror policy which it wanted to exercise on basis of an INTERPOL order it had issued against Kurdish politicians and added;

"According to the information we obtained, Turkey's application to INTERPOL against Demiralp is directly related to the news made by our agency. Arresting a journalist on ground of the reports she/he has made, is a shameful situation in a European country on terms of the democracy and freedoms.

"With this practice, Belgium has become a law enforcer in Europe for Turkey's censorship and oppression policies against the press".

The agency has also stated that the appeal hearing would be held on Friday (December 23) and urged the Government of Belgium and the institutions of the European Union (EU) immediately. (EA/DG